Living in Winnipeg

Winnipeg is the capital city of Manitoba and the largest city in the province. Over the past decade the Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program brought to Canada immigrants in record numbers and Winnipeg became home to more than 60,000 newcomers.

The strong population growth boosted Winnipeg’s economy, which was recently rated the third-fastest growing economy among Canada’s major cities. Being one of the Canadian cities that offer most affordable housing, Winnipeg continues to attract immigrants from around the globe.

Weather

Winnipeg is one of the sunniest cities in Canada. However, clear skies don’t necessary mean warm weather. Manitoba’s capital experiences very cold and windy winters, which last from November to March. The average snow depth in January is 20 cm and the temperatures are between -22.8°C and -12.7°C. Extremes are not unusual. The lowest recorded temperature was in -45°C in February 1966. Strong winds can make winter temperatures feel even colder than the actual temperatures. Wind chill is the index to indicate how cold the weather feels to the average person. In Winnipeg there are about 49 days a year with wind chill of -30°C or less. The coldest wind chill was -57.1°C in January 1996.
Summers are from May to August. Temperatures in July are usually between 19.5°C and 25.5°C. The highest temperature recorded in summer was 40.6°C in 1949. The city is hit by thunderstorms and sometimes tornadoes in springs and summers.
Winnipeg is threatened by severe flooding (such as the Red River Flood of 1997) because of its flat topography and the melting snow.

Public transport

Winnipeg Transit provides the public bus service in the city. It operates 84 fixed routes. The buses run usually from 6 a.m. until pass midnight. You can find system maps and timetables at the Transit Administration Office (B-414 Osborne Street), the Millennium Library (251 Donald Street) and Winnipeg Square Service Centre (SW Concourse Portage and Main). Also, Winnipeg Transit’s web site offers a trip planner where you can type your location and find out how to get to your destination. For transit fares click here.

Working

As you are in the process of choosing the best city in Canada for you, join us at the upcoming Settling in Canada Online Fair. You’ll learn all about the careers and government funded training that is available by province so that you can make an informed choice on where to live.

What you can do at the fair

When you enter the fair you will be at the Plaza, from there you can check out the auditorium, exhibit halls and a lot more…

In the auditorium, you can watch some very informative webinars where you can learn everything from interview techniques to how to choose a settlement agency that is right for you.

The exhibit halls are where you find the booths, Each one of these is packed full of downloadable resources and other tools that will allow you to settle in Canada with great ease and comfort.

Remember to Register Now to avoid missing out on this great career opportunity.

Police services

In 2011 a national survey of police-reported crime data revealed that Winnipeg and Manitoba had the highest homicide rates in the country, and that Winnipeg had the most violent crime. Criminologists point out that the high rate of homicides and violence is a result of social issues within specific neighbourhoods. The most dangerous areas are downtown and North End.
In cases of life-threatening emergencies or crimes in progress call 9-1-1.
Property crimes, situations when a person feels suspicious about crimes that have occurred or the offender has left and is not returning are not considered emergencies. The Police Non-Emergency telephone number is 204-986-6222.
To report frauds and scams contact PhoneBusters at 1-888-495-8501 (toll free) or via their website.

Places of worship

Christians make about 72 per cent of Winnipeg’s population. For a list of churches in the city click here.

Pre-arrival settlement and employment services in Manitoba

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About Us

Destination Canada Information Inc.’s “Prepare for Canada” program helps prospective immigrants to prepare for success in Canada by delivering quality seminars and information focusing on job preparedness and settlement first steps, operating overseas and in-Canada through online and in-person activities.